AIREDALE Hospital's cardiac team has launched a digital exercise clinic to help patients with their rehabilitation.

The clinic includes a set of online exercise videos and downloadable resources.

Cardiac bosses say the aim is to enable patients to access classes at a time and place that suits them, and to offer the option of completing extra sessions to supplement any exercise plan provided by their specialist nurse.

Reached via the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust website, the clinic includes a video from consultant cardiologist Dr Haqeel Jamil and a full physiotherapy-led exercise programme.

There is also a video on how to exercise safely and take pulse and blood pressure readings.

The digital provision is designed to add to the face-to-face support already provided by cardiac nurses to help people with their rehab following 'events' such as heart attacks or surgery, or stent procedures.

Nicola Drake, cardiac rehabilitation clinical lead at the trust, says: "For lots of people, having a heart problem can be a really frightening experience and our role is to help them conquer any fears and be in control of their own body again.

"We want to get people back to what’s important to them.

"Being active, and cardiovascular exercise, have lots of benefits but most importantly it helps people regain their confidence. It hopefully shows people that they can stay well and enjoy their life and at the same time reduce the risk of heart disease in the future.

"Cardiac rehab is a vital part of a person’s long-term recovery, as important as taking medication.

"Research has shown that it can reduce the risk of having another heart event and being readmitted to hospital, and has a positive impact on a person’s wellbeing. It helps people live a heart-healthy lifestyle and provides psychological support for the anxiety and depression often associated with a heart event or living with a heart condition."

Dr Jamil says: "Cardiac rehab can improve quality of life and our hope is that our patients can return to a more active lifestyle, with extra motivation and energy to do the things they enjoy.

"The digital programme is for patients who have already been assessed by the cardiac rehab team, so no one should start it without the approval of the team or their GP."

The videos were funded by NHS England, and created by the Working Academy in Bradford.

The digital clinic is at airedale-trust.nhs.uk/service/cardiac-rehab